Master Mason
Third Degree
Third Degree — What happened?
A sensitive summary focused on meaning, charity of thought and personal advancement.
Key Themes:
- The Master Mason ceremony
- Profound symbolism and reflection
- Personal growth and understanding
Further Study: Solomon offers detailed modules on the Third Degree to help you reflect on its deeper meanings.
The Sublime Degree
The Third Degree is the culmination of Craft Freemasonry. It is a solemn and deeply symbolic ceremony that teaches the candidate about mortality, fidelity, and the hope of a life beyond this one. It is often described as the most profound and moving of the three degrees.
The Legend of Hiram Abiff
At the heart of the ceremony is the legend of Hiram Abiff, the principal architect of King Solomon's Temple. The narrative recounts his steadfast refusal to reveal the secrets of a Master Mason, even at the cost of his life. His story is a powerful allegory of integrity, loyalty, and the triumph of principle over threat.
The Working Tools
The working tools of a Master Mason are the Skirret, Pencil and Compasses. The Skirret symbolises the need to lay out our actions with care; the Pencil, the record of our conduct kept by the Grand Architect; and the Compasses, the need to keep our desires and passions within due bounds.
The Five Points of Fellowship
The candidate is instructed in the Five Points of Fellowship — hand to hand, foot to foot, knee to knee, breast to breast, and hand over back — a lasting reminder of the mutual support and brotherly love that bind Masons together.